Switzerland’s prosperity rests to a great extent on openness, and its economic success is based on the largely unhindered exchange of goods, services, capital, people, and ideas with other countries. Avenir Suisse develops strategies for foreign trade policy, with the emphasis on Swiss-EU relations, new trade agreements, and Switzerland’s participation in multilateral organizations. Avenir Suisse critically examines both monetary policy and agricultural policy against the backdrop of foreign trade relations, with the aim of strengthening Switzerland’s position in the long term.
Should Switzerland Open Its Borders?
Think dänk! Two scholars debate a bold vision for migration
Should Switzerland, and the world, open their borders to free migration? In our latest podcast, Ilya Somin, a Professor of Law at George Mason University in Fairfax, USA, and Oliver Zimmer, a historian and research director at the Center for Research in Economics, Management, and the Arts, engage in a thought-provoking discussion. Moderated by Christoph Eisenring from Avenir Suisse, the debate explores the far-reaching implications of open borders and unrestricted migration.
Ilya Somin argues that open borders significantly enhance human freedom. He contends that people living in societies with limited opportunities could achieve higher productivity and prosperity by moving to freer, wealthier countries. For Somin, supporting freedom of movement within nations while opposing it between them is a glaring contradiction. Oliver Zimmer pushes back, describing Somin’s vision as a “libertarian utopia” that overlooks the crucial roles of culture and institution-building. He stresses that democratic societies must retain control over the scale and pace of migration to preserve stability and cohesion.
Christoph Eisenring
